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open .pdf from VB
I want to open a pdf file from within VB. I know the path & file name. Unfortunately, the Shell command doesn't appear to know what to do with
Shell "c:\somewhere\report.pdf"
The only way I've found to make this work is to supply both the fully-qualified path to AcroRd32.exe and my pdf file, delimiting the pdf file/path with double-quotes:
Shell "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe" & chr$(34) & "c:\somewhere\report.pdf" & chr$(34)
Yuck!
Enough info?
Shell "c:\somewhere\report.pdf"
The only way I've found to make this work is to supply both the fully-qualified path to AcroRd32.exe and my pdf file, delimiting the pdf file/path with double-quotes:
Shell "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe" & chr$(34) & "c:\somewhere\report.pdf" & chr$(34)
Yuck!
Enough info?
Hi,
Have you try:
Shell "start c:\somewhere\report.pdf"
Have you try:
Shell "start c:\somewhere\report.pdf"
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ASKER
wow, lots of really neat ideas...
I tried referencing the OCX and it's not showing up in my toolbox. will try the latter two options and get back to you. (I rather like the idea of not having to reference another ocx...)
Thanks!
I tried referencing the OCX and it's not showing up in my toolbox. will try the latter two options and get back to you. (I rather like the idea of not having to reference another ocx...)
Thanks!
ASKER
jklmn: I kept getting a "file not found" error, even with a real easy "c:\a.pdf" so I think the shell command didn't know what to do with "start".
agriggs: You rock! I had to do some research on the API, but it was relatively easy to find on MSDN. (For future reference, this is the KB that got me going: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q170/9/18.asp) It wasn't quite as easy as your examples, but I'm still a happy camper.
Quick resolution is very much appreciated... thanks to everyone!
agriggs: You rock! I had to do some research on the API, but it was relatively easy to find on MSDN. (For future reference, this is the KB that got me going: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q170/9/18.asp) It wasn't quite as easy as your examples, but I'm still a happy camper.
Quick resolution is very much appreciated... thanks to everyone!
You do what you want but, anyway, you need acrobat installed on target machines to get all others comments.
What is the problem with ocx?
If you don't want to use it, just do a little simple:
shell "start c:\mydocuments\mypdf.pdf",
will opens the file if you have acrobat installed, just like jklmn comment.
What is the problem with ocx?
If you don't want to use it, just do a little simple:
shell "start c:\mydocuments\mypdf.pdf",
will opens the file if you have acrobat installed, just like jklmn comment.
Anyway, you didn't open pdf file "inside" VB, just creates an instance of acrobat and you don't have control over it actually.
Cheers.
Cheers.
ASKER
When I referenced the OCX in my VB application, it wasn't showing up as a control I could drop on the form. I assumed it would work like the File Dialog ActiveX where you put the invisible control on your form. If not, I apologize!
I know Acrobat needs to be installed - that's a pre-requisite for the users who install the application.
Like I said, the "shell start" wasn't behaving for me. Since the API behaved as expected when I tried it, I went with that.
I know Acrobat needs to be installed - that's a pre-requisite for the users who install the application.
Like I said, the "shell start" wasn't behaving for me. Since the API behaved as expected when I tried it, I went with that.
Try using following code i work with this code it does not need any api or so.
dim quality
quality = Shell("C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe", vbMaximizedFocus)
SendKeys "^o", True
SendKeys "c:\asmahmood.pdf", True
SendKeys "{ENTER}", True
SendKeys "%R", True
dim quality
quality = Shell("C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe", vbMaximizedFocus)
SendKeys "^o", True
SendKeys "c:\asmahmood.pdf", True
SendKeys "{ENTER}", True
SendKeys "%R", True
ASKER
Thanks, but no thanks. I all but refuse to use sendkeys on religious grounds. <G> Also looks like you are relying on a hard-coded path to Acrobat.exe.
It has a method called openfile that shows the file.